HISTORIES: "Organizations" of Barron, Barron County, WI ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor, or the legal representative of the contributor, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Linda Mott 7 July 2000 ==================================================================== Organizations The early history of Barron saw the founding of many fraternal organizations. According to records available, the following came into being prior to 1920; F.&A.M. #220, I.O.O.F., Rebekahs, Eastern Star, Royal Neighbors, United Colony #218 Beavers, Yeomen, Modern Woodmen and Knights of Pythias. There are records available only on the 1st five of the above named; also, only the first five are still in existence today, and they are as follows: Barron Lodge #220 F.&A.M. received its charter on June 7, 1881. William P. Smith was the first W.M.. Members were scattered over the entire county, and meetings were first held in Coe's office which was upstairs over the old Bank of Barron building. Paul K. Anderson is the present W.M., and the membership is about 110. Fred I. Hirt, who has served in every office of the lodge more than once, has done a lot in keeping the lodge going. The next lodge to be chartered was the I.O.O.F #38, which received its charter in July, 1887, with a membership of 4. There is no record available as to who the first officers were, but the present ones are Ray Christeson, Noble Grand and C.V. Peterson, secretary. The present membership is about 70. Liberty Rebekah Lodge was chartered on June 8, 1892, with 9 members, and Amanda Horstman was N.G.. Mrs. Norman Olson is present N.G. and the membership is about 60. The O.E.S. was next chartered on June 12, 1892. Present officers are Lillian and Jay Holman, and the membership is about 103. Royal Neighbors #1850 was chartered September 7, 1899, with 30 members. Laura Breda is the present Oracle, and the membership is about 200. In the early history of the city, there were 4 commercial clubs; Barron Business Men's Club, Mother's Club, PTA, Business Girl's Club and the WCTU. Then there were the Boy Scouts and the Hi-Y Club. Only the Mother's Club and WCTU and Boy Scouts still exist. There were no records available to show when the clubs were formed and who at the time was at the head of each of them. The present president of the Mother's Club is Mrs. Verl Maas. Mrs. John Topol is president of the WCTU. The Boy Scouts have increased their membership to the point that there are now two troops in the city, and 1 Cub Scout group totalling more than 100 members. Floyd Hovarter and Virgil Edson are Scoutmasters while E.C. Warwick is head of the Cubs. There were 4 patriotic organizations prior to 1922 and they were: Martin Watson Post # 172 G.A.R., organized September 6, 1884, with 16 charter members. The latest record of the post is 1922, when there were only 8 members left. The 2nd organization was the counter part of the Post and that was the Women's Relief Corps #130, organized April 15, 1895, with 19 charter members. The latter did everything possible to foster the spirit of patriotism and to aid and further all interests of the old soldier. They presented flags to all the schools and gave each veteran a basket of "dainties on his birthday." Like the auxiliaries of the present day veterans' organizations, they, at all time, bent their efforts to further the cause of the Posts. According to records available, the last Civil War veteran to die in this area, was Sidney H. Peck, who died July 2, 1939. Ben Brown Post #212 American Legion was organized January 12, 1920. First Commander was Dr. H.M. Coleman. By 1922, there were 126 members. Among the first meeting places were the Barron County Court Room, the K.P. Hall, and upstairs over the old city hall. Their present clubrooms are located in the log building on North Third Street, which was built in 1935 when Hans Ness was Commander. In December, 1943, the Post name was changed to Brown- Selvig Post #212 in memory of Herman E. Selvig who was killed at Guadalcanal, the first casualty from this community. Ben Brown was the first casualty from the community in World War I, which accounts for the first name of the Post. The Post met all the mandatory measures to be eligible to come up to the standards of a patriotic and service organization. Also, the Post has given a wide service to the community, state and nation. Among them were the first sponsors of the Boy Scouts; community Christmas tree; Christmas treat and show for the kiddies; wheel chair and hospital program for the community; patriotic ceremonies for Memorial and Armistice Day; awards to leading boy and girl high school graduates each year, plus many more. Probably the biggest thing the Post did was promotion and bringing to a conclusion the making of the park into the beautiful place it is today. Through the years, the work of this fine organization has made the American Legion a tradition. They have stood by in peace and war to aid and help the community in every way possible. The Post's high membership was in 1945, when there were about 400 members. Today there are well over 200 and approaching the 300 mark. Glen Christianson is the local commander and the adjutant is Elmer Severson who has served that capacity for several years. The women's auxiliary to the Post was formed in 1921, with 11 charter members; today their number is about 100. The first president was Mrs. Martina Falkenberg: Today's president is Arlene Bastian. Through the many years the Post has been in existence, the Auxiliary has been a motivating factor in the promotion of the aims and ideals of the Post. They have well lived up to their promise of promoting and helping the American Legion. Since 1922, two fraternal organizations have been formed in the city of Barron. The Degree of Homor about 1924 with Hazel Hudson as the first president, and presently Minnie wood is heading the organization. The Shrine Club was formed in 1946 with M.L. Claflin as president; Gale Wells is the present head of the 110 membership group. The first commercial club formed since 1922 was the Civics Club in 1927. It is composed of the business and professional men in the city and presently has a membership close to 130. The present head is Mait Brempl. The last formed club was the Junior Chamber of Commerce, chartered in June, 1956, with a membership of 7 with Dr. Dean Hammond as president. Today, Robert Fladten is president and the membership is over 30. Since 1922, there have been 3 new patriotic posts or units chartered in this city. The first one was Robert B. McCoy Post #46 U.S. War Vets chartered May 21, 1930, with the first meeting in the old city hall. A.J. Osborn was the first commander and P. Eckley was the adjutant. The last commander, at the time of the last meeting on September 8, 1953, was Albert Wickbolt, and they met at the home of Jack Pitzer who was the acting adjutant. At the present time there are only 3 survivors of the Post and they are Tom Stafne of Prairie Farm, M. Galbraith of Cumberland, and Jake Clemans of Barron. Jake, as he is affectionately known, has severed as commander of the Post and adjutant several times, besides serving the Post in other capacities. Jake is the only Spanish War Vet (living) in our city today. He lives alone at 127 South 2nd Street, Barron, and next February will be 90 years young. The next patriotic organization and the latest formed was Veterans of Foreign War Post #8338, which received its charter in 1946, with 18 members present of the total of 18 members. The present commander is Seymour Wintrone and adjutant is Gene Bender. Presently about 100 members make up the post roster. The Auxiliary to the Post was chartered in 1949 with Marjorie Tabor as the first president. The president today is June Greenwold and Mrs. Ralph Akenson is the secretary. Their membership is 31. The Post owns its own clubrooms on the north side of East Division Ave. in the city of Barron. The Post and its Auxiliary, bend every effort to help the cause of the veteran, his widow and orphan, in many ways; particularly for the disabled and hospitalized. They, too, have several community services and above all keep up the patriotic spirit of the community. This organization, although the youngest service organization, certainly shows great promise for the future. The Barron Kiwanis Club was organized in February, 1944. At present it meets in the Methodist Church basement. There are 40 members in this club at the present time. The officers are; J.W. Felsch (president), Virgil Edson (vice president), and E.R. Christianson (secretary and treasurer). --From the Souvenir Historical Album of the Barron Centennial-1960 (used by permission)